San-Marié Vogel - News #Colour

Trending or Timeless: your choice in interiors

Wed, 29 May 2019 00:07:54 +0200

You know that feeling that you get when you walk into a house? That sense of personality that a space can affect depending on the choice of décor? There’s either a sense of stability, grace and settled comfort – or a more modern, edgy engagement where the statement is clearly ‘now’ or even futuristic; an exciting, motivating undercurrent of imminent change.

Sometimes the choice between classic and updated can reflect your personality – but it is personal. How you like to feel in your environment is paramount to how you will choose space, colour, design and functionality. Sometimes, however, there’s a lovely blend where classic lines meet stylish innovation. Timeless is just that – and its effect can underpin more trendy applications with subtle influence, bringing a sense of continuance to the sharper, quirkier designs of immediate fashion.

Timeless

The Victorian Bathtub: Well, who would credit that after all these years, these bathtubs would still be considered the height of luxury and chic? Often made with cast iron and lined with porcelain, they began to grace homes in the early 18 ^th century. For a while they fell out of favour in the sixties and seventies, but made a remarkable comeback and now steadily remain an elegant and comfortable choice – both the originals which are considered more valuable than gold, and their more modern counterparts in splendidly innovative design.

Fireplaces: They will never lose their charm. Whether functional or decorative, fireplaces are always a focal point of a room, especially when there’s the warming light of a roaring fire. Old fireplaces are refurbished and cherished by those who know their value as a décor item. Timeless and trendy, fireplaces afford a sense of luxury in any room, whether old-fashioned or lit with the magic dance of biofuel behind glass.

Area rugs: We will never give these up. They add colour and pattern and a focal point to any room. They define the shape of the room and are often the basis for décor. Rugs provide warmth, comfort and a sense of luxury to any space. They are the cosy element which, like a fireplace, blends with any trendy update you may have in mind.

Colour: Colour is a mood mover. White remains cool and relaxing, as do softer pastels. Neutrals can only be timeless. There’s safety in the simplicity of off-white in a host of delicate shades from pinks to greys. The sense of calm created by softer colours will never go out of fashion; they provide classic décor opportunities and are easily blended with trendy upgrades like cushions and throws, making it easier to change a look than an expensive paint job.

Mirrors: These are the light reflectors that open a room, enhance space and give a sense of a wider view. Mirrors just never go out of style. You can put them anywhere to capture and return images of light and life. Whether ornate or jazzily disconnected in patterns, leaning or mounted, large or small, they add points of scintillating beauty to any room.

Built-in bookcases: These are an enduring favourite. They add value to a home. A built-in bookcase provides ‘lived-in’ homeliness, a sense of style and old-fashioned comfort intermixed. You can have them in any room; they offer functionality and convenience, orderliness and character. And none of that goes out of style.

White kitchens: Kitchens are sensitive places. They are the heart of any house – but also a benchmark of change. A dated kitchen can reduce the value of your house. But whatever the style, the usefulness of white kitchens never loses appeal because there is so much opportunity to adapt and innovate any time the mood takes you. Apart from looking refreshingly clean and efficient, there is a brightness and lightness that is attractive in a working environment. Your colour scheme can revolve as fashions come and go – and simply changing the handles on drawers and cupboards can create a new look – from timeless to modern.

Artwork: Your choice can range from classic to modern art. It doesn’t matter. Art can find itself a fit in almost any décor. Sometimes it can become an individual focal point, a disruption that holds the eye, and adds boldness to an otherwise conventional surround. Art is personal – but the right pieces, situated advantageously – can make timelessness new and trendy in subtlety and canny juxtaposition.

Neutrality: This is still hugely popular: plain colours, understated hues, low-key designs. A wall with a wash of grey, a couch perhaps as a focal point, blending with pillows and throws, a splash of colour here and there, more for effect than function. The current trend is all about sophistication and power, emphasizing fresh and new but exuding a strong sense of solidity. Neutral blends easily with modern aspects, offering a background you can brighten up without losing that feeling of modernity and plush comfort. Neutrality is timeless, but new colour innovations are always trending.

Picture frames: The plainer the better. The new chic is large white frames. Clean-cut against a pale shaded wall, the frames enhance the picture but also the style of the room in general. It’s a ‘boxed’ look that draws the attention to the inner depths of the art. The effect is deceptively intrusive, quietly bold.

Hand-crafting: This is popular from fittings to coffee tables, to lamps and cushions. People are enjoying more customised pieces in their homes, commissioning tiled artwork, personal embroidered cushion covers, unique lighting solutions, etc. Personalise your home for individual satisfaction, celebrate the art of handicrafts, and make your home truly unique.

Natural: Stone, copper, wood, concrete, brass, granite are definitely the new trends. Organic is the feeling, natural is the experience, elegance is the look. These finishes help to create a softer, warm feeling that is less sharp and clinical than stainless steel and chrome. Brass is now leading the field, adding subtle warmth and old-world charm in a modern twist.

Velvet: A marvellous return of a superbly textured fabric! Both luxurious and beautiful, It offers comfort and colour – and a scintillating lift to any room. Whether for couches or cushions, velvet offers a level of sophistication that is going to wow us through 2019, and is set to be the most sought-after interior design decorating trend.

Bolder colour: Though neutrality rules, bolder colours in accessories are becoming more evident. Smack that muted grey with pink or red! Richer hues through your home can uplift the moods of rooms, and people. Brighter colours also serve to highlight your quieter shades, bringing in opportunities to be both jazzy and tasteful – a balance that helps to avoid the heaviness of bright colours and the boredom of too much neutrality. Changing colours lets you up the tempo whenever you feel like it.

Florals: An old style revamped to fresh approach in colour and format. Whereas before flowers were kept to natural sizes in intricate patterns, modern flowers are large and bold. You can have one wall entirely covered by one massive flower. The effect is fantastic and playful. Flowers never go out of fashion, but modern décor makes them powerful and trendy in all locations, from private homes, to retail stores, to offices. Artwork and fabrics filled with their bright and complex designs hold attention and exude beauty, tranquillity, and the power of nature. Big flowers are the bold trend of 2019.

Udumo’s Mission: The combined energy of empowerment and aesthetic design

Udumo Group delivers interior décor and design services by empowering unemployed people with skills development initiatives. We believe in investing in the individual, nurturing inherent skills, and uplifting communities. Our interior design philosophy is to design beautiful spaces that are both functional and timelessly pleasing. We believe that through promoting the values of creative excellence, discipline and commitment, we are able to bring out the best in people, motivating positive surroundings and the value of living and working in such spaces. For information on Udumo Group, visit: www.udumogroup.co.za

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The trends in TV set design

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 22:13:29 +0200

Whether the requirement is for a traditional space or an ultra-modern one, TV set designs offer infinite scope for designing ingenuity – gone are the days when they looked like what they were: a TV studio. Especially the plethora of talk shows necessitates that designers are abreast with trends the world over when creating a set that most effectively represents the character of the host and creates the mood conducive to sitting down for a good chat. Set design is all about establishing a suitable visual concept in unique and creative ways to support the specific nature of the talk show.

A good set should invite audience engagement by being interesting, layered, imbued with different textures and skilful lighting that tell a story, are aesthetically pleasing, and attract the eye. While the intrinsic elements involved naturally follow those of home interiors, the specialised skill required is considerable for one basic and inarguable reason: the designer is creating a visual illusion that both tells a story about the host and show, and transforms a small, limited space into one with sufficient dimension and depth to transport the viewers from their seats into the suggested reality of the set

Lighting as illusionist

This is the designer tool that tops all others. The most beautiful, costly set without the proper lighting is expertise, time and money down the drain. Skilled designers bear in mind that overhead lights for illumination is taboo – rather than use an overhead truss with heavy lighting fixtures, the use of lightweight LED fixtures in a range of lower points in the venue can conjure the appropriate impact. Numerous, subtle and diverse sources of light at differing levels can create any number of moods to suit the theme of the talk show, to present the host and guests in an appropriately flattering manner, and to enforce that vital illusion of being elsewhere than in a TV studio. These different light sources also serve to emphasize certain areas, props or colors while simultaneously drawing the attention away from areas that are less desirable or best downplayed.

Color as complement

In combination, clever lighting and creatively employed color combine to inject dynamism into any set. While the governing trend for this year, according to Pinterest, is to opt for the quiet color of sage, a new favorite tone is also grey, owing mainly to the fact that it is so versatile: there are warm greys and cool greys and, according to the top, “in the know” designers internationally, this subtle color comes in close to 50 different hues. Though this is largely relevant to the chosen design of home interiors, it is of equal issue here, as talk show hosts often request that their talk show set reflects the preferences and taste expressed in their private home environment. Using subtle neutrals or selecting vibrantly contrasting colors will depend on the agreement reached between designer and the uniquely individual character of the host, as well as the nature of their particular show. Opting for the dominance of one color or the use of many, is equally a matter of individual choice.

Skillful use of scale

The major challenge facing designers of a TV set is the limit of the allotted space. This is what most largely affects the furniture designed or selected. Some designers swear by starting with the seating and working outward from there. The chairs or sofa used must be in balance with the size and proportion of the space, otherwise they either dwarf the overall design or make the wall areas feel empty. The practical choice with a sofa is to select or design one with a large seating area and without unnecessarily bulky arms. If high ceilings allow for this, a large gallery wall will also enhance the scale. Pinterest trend predictions suggest that a single, large-scale piece of wall art will find favor in 2018.

Audience size is also an issue to consider when dealing with scale. If the set is small, but the audience large, props and other decorative creative elements should be bigger, bolder, impactful and readily visible. If one is dealing with a small set and small audience, details are critical. While props are naturally brought in to express the character and mood of the host and their show, and will differ accordingly, the trend for 2018 focuses heavily on plants, especially those with vibrant and patterned foliage. Other new design trends worthy of interest is the renewed popularity of bone inlaid features and the mixing of warm metals (gold, brass, bronze) with cool (silver and chrome).

Agreement is reached on one thing: dynamic set design nowadays is all about creative shapes and contrasting textures that will lend dynamism, elegance and the prerequisite touch of glamour to the space and invite intrigue and interested engagement from the audience.

Udumo Group delivers bespoke interior décor and set design services. Our interior design philosophy is to design beautiful spaces that are both functional and timelessly pleasing. We have proved that promoting the values of creative excellence, discipline and commitment can bring forth the beauty within each person and reflect it in both private and public living spaces around them.

For information on Udumo Group, visit: www.udumogroup.co.za

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Out with the old, in with the new: give your house a spring-clean look

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 21:32:52 +0200

No matter how many different designer websites and magazines you visit, you will find that all of them return to the same basic principles concerning ideas to help you turf out the old look and create an entirely new one without the cost of calling in a professional. With minor variations, here’s what your “spring clean” should focus on when deciding what must OUT and what must IN.

A change of colour

Start with your entryway. After all, this is the first part of your home that gives you a greeting embrace as you open your front door. Consider how colours affect your mood and what mood you’d like homecoming to evoke. Most designers suggest opting for three colours or shades for different sections of the house: one for the walls, one for couches, chairs and other furniture, and one that dominates in accessories. Of course, you need not follow this rule at all, but it is a useful guide to ending up with an aesthetically pleasing end result.

There is no need to change the colour of all the walls, either. Simply one of the walls in a room can be in a daringly different colour or shade to match the furniture that dominates the room, whether this be your entryway, living room, dining room, or bedroom. You can even opt for wallpaper in a new shade just for certain sections of walls. Changing the colour on picture frames is an equally simple manner of introducing a fresh feel into a room. For the bathroom your IN with new colour can simply be a new shower curtain, a row of colourful tiles, or a splash of paint on that old bathroom cabinet. Just remember: if you want a gentle, calming effect, select softer hues; for a vibrant, energizing effect, bolder colours are best. Select colours that stir the required emotion in you.

Differing textures

Here we are talking linen, velvet, silk, cotton, brushed suede, leather, mohair, the weave on cushion covers, faux fur blankets, rattan chairs and woven baskets, differing grains of wood, and even of introducing hints of new texture into artwork frames, flower vases or place mats. Texture adds so much character to any room and encourages the creative artist in you to emerge as you play with varying combinations and arrange them in corners of rooms or on a table, as shown in the photograph below.

The kinds of OUT and IN here will depend on how much you want to spend, but every little change will be refreshing. Decide on what suits your pocket and your needs. Go big, and opt for texture change in curtains or upholstery? Go small, but with equal pleasure, and simply splash out on new cushion covers, new throws or blankets, new lamp shades, a sculpture or two, or interesting texture additions to picture or photo frames? Further ideas for texture effects will follow in the accessories section below.

New lighting effects

Overhead lighting is functional, but, let’s be frank, it is hardly ever flattering or interesting. If your budget allows it, invest in pendant lights. These are extremely effective when illuminating work spaces in kitchens, but are equally useful for creating special softening effects in a bedroom, dining room or living room. Also, adding them to your bathroom, near the sink, will provide the necessary, focused light for those who need to apply make-up or shave.

Other lighting changes can be reassuringly inexpensive. Bringing in a new table lamp or two, or simply replacing the old lampshades on existing ones, will “throw a different light” on almost any living space! The best idea by far is to install dimmers; the flexibility these afford, in terms of altering the mood or look in any room at any given moment, is worth the relatively tiny cost.

Naturally, new window treatments can also produce surprising changes to the light in every room. Decide to add or remove panes of frosted glass, or replace outdated blinds and heavy old curtains with linen or bamboo shades.

Additional Ins and Outs

A good choice of mirrors will enhance any room. For a small dining or living room, replacing your existing mirror with a large one will add depth and dimension. Smaller ones you already own can merely be framed differently to refresh that spot, or you can visit secondhand shops for inimitably lovely antique finds. The same applies to the enriching effect of rugs. These are available in so many different sizes, colours and immeasurably lovely designs. And for that overdue and vital spring-clean of messy clutter, there is an absurdly simple designer solution: containers. Any decorative bowls or woven baskets to your liking should suffice. For loose items like soaps and bath salts in the bathroom, or your dressing table items, placing them on a beautiful tray, or adding a small bowl of coloured stones to such surfaces, can prettify the space.

Accessories

As reflected in this photograph illustrating the use of varying textures, relatively inexpensive IN-items like candle holders, bowls, trays, flowers, books, pine cones, frosted glass ornaments, an antique, enamel-coated jug or kettle and the always enlivening addition of a pot plant can turn the old into the new. Nature offers an astonishing array of choices here: twigs or feathers, shells or rocks, or your own imaginative use of dried or pressed flowers, can turn into pieces of timeless creative expression. Better still, for when you feel the need for the next uplifting spring clean, these can simply be rearranged or shifted to a new part of the room or house.

And you will have proved that you yourself can turn your home into a constantly evolving work of art.

Udumo Designs deliver interior décor and design services by empowering unemployed people with skills development initiatives. We believe in investing in the individual, nurturing inherent skills, and uplifting communities. We hold as our mission making the future sustainable by mentoring meaningful change in the wider environment. Our interior design philosophy is to design beautiful spaces that are both functional and timelessly pleasing. We have proved that promoting the values of creative excellence, discipline and commitment can bring forth the beauty within each person and reflect it in both private and public living spaces around them.

For information on Udumo Designs, visit: www.udumodesigns.org

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Our homes: an extension of our personalities

Tue, 03 Oct 2017 21:07:34 +0200

The word “home” is multi-layered: for most of us it envelopes every important and treasured memory reaching right back to our childhood. Home evokes comforting images and emotions related to family and loved ones, to where we’ve come from, and what we’ve since become. It is the place to which we always want and need to return, because it is where we feel we belong. It is where we can truly be ourselves and forget about the image others have of us. Simply put: home is an extension of our personalities.

How spaces speak

You need to be clear about what you want your home to say about you, so that it carries your signature with pride. It should be both a personal statement and a source of aesthetic satisfaction that pleases the senses. In the succinct words of Scott Adams:

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing which ones to keep.”

Spaces speak through the interplay of colour and light, a creative positioning of items, a combining of differing textures, and through appropriately placing things within those spaces. All these elements can combine to say something essential and eloquent about you.

Giving your home its unique voice

Redesigning your home need not be a costly affair. All the elements are probably already right there. They need only to be brought into fresh focus.

Light: The simple magic of light is available to us all, whether its effects are from the outside or created by placing a modest lamp in a strategic spot. Coloured glass or light filtered through fabric can instantaneously alter the atmosphere in a living space. And again: the mere choice of a particular lightbulb can set the required tone in any corner of a room.

Colour: Here is an equal magic wand. Whether it is on walls, doors, window frames or wainscoting, it will reflect any mood you desire. Carpets, rugs, throws, cushion covers, linen and pottery are just some of the readily available ways of making colour dance exuberantly, or flow gently, through your home. Colour can express brazen confidence, or be a soft, subtle invitation. It can express the sociable side of you that is energetic and communicative, or indicate that a certain room is where you prefer to be pensive, meditative, restful, and private.

Objects: Let’s turn to the most meaningful valuables we possess: our individual, treasured memories… and the objects that recall those defining moments from our past. They tell your story. These are, after all, the memorabilia or mementos you have chosen to carry with you through the years. They are evocative of the people and events that have shaped you. They hold meaning for you, so trust that they say something valid about you. Display them. Play with options. Arrange them together with newer items that complement them or create a striking contrast.

Textures: One has only to consider the vast array of different fabrics available to realise that an effective combination of textures can be a relatively easy achievement. Apart from the obvious elements, like the weave in rugs or cushion covers, or combining rough and smooth surfaces, you can draw on nature here to produce innovative and pleasing results. Nature’s innumerable and inimitably lovely designs have continued to inspire human ones throughout the ages. Invite it in, whether through plants, flowers, stones, or different grains of wood. Or do so simply by keeping a lookout for objects of natural beauty on your walks through a forest, along a nature trail, or on a beach.

Explore yourself

Most psychologists would agree that we never stop growing, and consequently never stop learning new things about ourselves. The interior design of your home can be an ongoing exploration of different facets of yourself. Whether you live alone and don’t really care about what others think of you or your home… whether you feel comfortable only in presenting a particular image of yourself… whether you and a partner need to combine tastes to create a jointly pleasing aesthetic… or whether you share your home with a family of colourful individuals, allowing your home to speak for you is an opportunity to discover new things about your tastes, your moods, your needs and what might be surprising, newfound abilities you never knew you possessed.

As a mirror image of who you are, designing a uniquely embracing home for yourself and loved ones allows you to explore the innate artistic side of yourself, and to claim your creative identity, so that your home reflects an inspired and inspiring you.

For inspiration is reciprocal. In the words of an unknown but inarguably insightful person:

“Our homes should inspire us to go out into the world to do great things and then welcome us back for refreshment.”

Udumo Group

Udumo Group deliver interior décor and design services by empowering unemployed people with skills development initiatives. We believe in investing in the individual, nurturing inherent skills, and uplifting communities. We hold as our mission making the future sustainable by mentoring meaningful change in the wider environment. Our interior design philosophy is to design beautiful spaces that are both functional and timelessly pleasing. We have proved that promoting the values of creative excellence, discipline and commitment can bring forth the beauty within each person and reflect it in both private and public living spaces around them.

For more information, visit Udumo Designs and Udumo Group.

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